This is not the best season for the New York Islanders, as the team lingers in the lower ranks of the Metropolitan Division, in sixth position, lagging just behind arch-rival, the New York Rangers. However, the team’s lukewarm showing has not forbidden the star potential of rookie Matthew Schaefer from shining through.
The former first overall pick has already hit a praiseworthy milestone by becoming the youngest NHL player to score a point in each of his four career games. Now, he has added another trophy to his already stacked cupboard, leaving behind Bobby Orr and sending seismic waves across the NHL community.
Matthew Schaefer Surpasses Bobby Orr to Create NHL History
The Islanders inaugurated the November chapter of the 2025-26 season with a fierce victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets. At the center of their 3-2 victory on home ice lay the efforts of New York’s standout defenseman and generational talent, Schaefer.
Schaefer surpassed Bobby Orr when he scored two goals against the Blue Jackets, becoming the youngest defenseman to have a multigoal game to his credit. The defenseman played a crucial role in tying the game 2-2 at 18:53, before Simon Holmstrom scored another goal 29 seconds later to secure the Islanders’ much-needed victory.
Team achievement aside, Schaefer’s brilliant milestone has already cemented his legacy among the NHL greats.
Matthew Schaefer netted the tying goal in the @NYIslanders‘ late comeback win and became the youngest defenseman in NHL history with a multi-goal game, besting Bobby Orr.#NHLStats: https://t.co/lkAJkC9aA9 pic.twitter.com/gBAoRQN2LF
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) November 3, 2025
The game was bound to leave fans on the edge of their seats till the very end. Commenting on the fierce competition, Schaefer said, “We really grinded them out there.”
“That was a big shift out of the guys. Wow. I mean, it’s fun hockey to play and fun hockey to watch too, when your team goes to work and [gets] a couple of big goals there, and, you know, the last minute. So that was fun to watch and fun to play,” reported NHL independent correspondent Stefen Rosner.
When Schaefer was drafted first overall in 2025, the league was prepared for the exceptional hockey skills and acumen he would bring to the big leagues. However, few could have expected the defenseman to reach such heights in such a short span of time. As the Islanders prepare to face the Boston Bruins in UBS Arena on Nov. 4, Schaefer has just raised people’s expectations of him to an unprecedented level.